Need help.. Windows Explorer stops responding

[Kralik]

I recently reinstalled Windows Vista Ultimate x64 installed on my notebook after reformatting the hard drive and its working a lot faster now.. There is a problem though.. when I open my folder with video files in various formats (DivX, Avi, Mpeg, Mov and Mkv etc). Windows Explorer stops responding and restarts..

I have set my default media player to WMP x64 using this method and it works fine..

I had Vista Codecs and x64 components from Shark007 installed and have uninstalled them and installed <snipped> Codecs Mega pack + 64 bit <snipped> codecs in an attempt to solve these Windows Explorer crashes but they are still there. I've noticed that when I don't install the 64 bit addons for any of these codec packs the Windows Explorer stops crashing but the problem is that if I uninstall it... I cannot play files in my 64-bit player.

Before I reinstalled Windows I had <snipped> Vista Codecs + x64 components installed without problem and I do need the 64 bit WMP coz the hi-def movies play smoother on that and I need the x64 codecs for that but I need to be able to open that folder and select the videos in order to play them and Windows Explorer restarts just as soon as I open this folder..

So.. you see my problem? I think Windows Explorer crashes when it tries to generate thumbnails for MKV video files.

Any suggestions?

Edited February 17, 2009 by John S.
codec packs mentioned contains proprietary codecs and is considered warez

[jnelsoninjax]

You might think about disabling thumbnail previews in folders.

• To make this change, click the Organize button on any folder, and choose Folder and Search Options from the menu.
  Click the View tab, and then check the Always show icons, never thumbnails checkbox.
  Click OK, and you're done.
  

[Preppy Veteran]

This should be a crash in the Haali Media Splitter thumbnail handler. Disable thumbnail generation from that or get them to fix their code.

Also, stop using warez and ripping people off. You wonder why you have problems playing multimedia, yet you're actively ripping off vendors and thus discouraging them from making investments in this field to fix stuff like this up.

[Kralik]

This should be a crash in the Haali Media Splitter thumbnail handler. Disable thumbnail generation from that or get them to fix their code.

Also, stop using warez and ripping people off. You wonder why you have problems playing multimedia, yet you're actively ripping off vendors and thus discouraging them from making investments in this field to fix stuff like this up.

Whose ripping off who? :o

The codecs are available free of charge.. and there is a process known as DVD ripping you know. Why are you so quick to judge people?

Generalizing things/people is stupid. Even the four fingers on your hand are not equal.

Anyways thanks for the advice. But I had more or less solved the problem.. I removed Vista Codecs from and installed only the 64-bit K-L I T E package. Now all the videos are working fine but I don't see MKV thumbnails. Any workarounds? I know I have to do something in the registry.. but what? :p

[Preppy Veteran]

Whose ripping off who? :o

The codecs are available free of charge.. and there is a process known as DVD ripping you know. Why are you so quick to judge people?

? You're referring specifically to warez redistributions of commercial for-pay software. Those codecs are not available free of charge.

If you're going to steal, don't be surprised when people call you out for it.

I made no reference to DVD ripping and that's an area I wouldn't touch. I made a very specific reference to the fact that you are ripping off codec vendors such as Ligos.

MKV thumbnails: really, get Haali Media Splitter to fix their code here. That should be your primary option, but it will cause problems on shutdown of HMS from time to time. (I have no idea what the precise repro is, but it looks like you found it too.)

[Kralik]

? You're referring specifically to warez redistributions of commercial for-pay software. Those codecs are not available free of charge.

If you're going to steal, don't be surprised when people call you out for it.

I made no reference to DVD ripping and that's an area I wouldn't touch. I made a very specific reference to the fact that you are ripping off codec vendors such as Ligos.

MKV thumbnails: really, get Haali Media Splitter to fix their code here. That should be your primary option, but it will cause problems on shutdown of HMS from time to time. (I have no idea what the precise repro is, but it looks like you found it too.)

The Matroska website is down.. I wanted to try their package as thats the only thing I have problem with.. Haali, I've tried.. same.. files play fine but when Windows tries to generate thumbnails it crashes.. btw I don't need and don't use Indeo.. I need DivX,XVid and MKV for videos + Windows standard..